During
the adolescent stage males and females develop differently with different
skills and at different times according to Berk (2010). Current findings indicate that there are
changes in the actual levels of turbulence once believed to occur at this stage
of emotions and concepts as held by Pauletti & Perry (2011). We will explore the differences and
similarities between male and female gender development to discover what
effects these changes have on adolescents.
These changes occur both cognitively and physically as the adolescent
transitions from childhood

Self-concept
refers to the way we view ourselves as people (Berk, 2010). This encompasses our morality and opinions of
ourselves and our development shows both differences and similarities
throughout our lifespans between the genders that are quite evident during the
adolescent stage. Differences include
influences that can occur from gender stereotyping such as, boys share a lack
of interest in emotional relationships but girls thrive on them. Boys tend to be more self-assured and
confident at this stage reports Pauletti and Perry (2011). They tend to act more willing to explore new
ideas. Girls show higher on the
neuroticism scale at this age than boys, while at the same time displaying more
feelings, agreeableness, and overall friendliness. Both genders worry about
their self-image, particularly when it comes to peer relationships and
acceptance although girls worry about being slender and boys muscular. Both
genders reach higher levels of understanding concerning their morality Pauletti
and Perry (2011) note.

Identity

Females show higher rates of confidence
than boys on subjects dealing with art, reading, English, and social studies,
whereas males are more confident with computers, math, and sports. This ties into gender stereotyping as girls
receive dolls and kitchen items to play with when boys get cars, and sports
related toys at early ages. Berk (2010), notes that during this stage a sort of
identity crisis is achieved while adolescents experiment with different things,
friends, and ideas. This is normal
development as teens try to figure out who they are and where they fit in.

Girls at this age are more prone to
eating disorders, depression, and rumination (Berk, 2010). Also girl’s
self-esteem remains lower than boys at this stage. Both male and female
adolescents are equally concerned about body image so self-esteem remains the
same on that issue. Peer relationships
play a major part in identity for both genders.
The differences come in the form of activities that they share, boys
share common activities and achievements where girl’s relationships take emotional
approaches (Berk, 2010).

This
stage encompasses the beginnings of sexual maturity, bringing with it hormonal
and emotional changes (Geidd & Lenroot).
Social relationships group toward same sex activities and most
differences will occur around peers rather than parents. Pauletti and Perry (2011) report that girl’s
activities contain more relationship oriented mindsets that include more
intimate feelings with peers but also jealousy or co-rumination. Boys’ activities consist of affable
competition and risk taking activities, marked by control situations and able
to express feelings and explore intimacy.

Sexual gender identity is higher in males
than females as boys strive hard to conform to gender expectations of identity
holds Pauletti and Perry (2011). Again this
relates to stereotypical behavior. Males
receive encouragement to display tough behavior traits when girls receive
direction to display tenderness, frilliness, and care. Homosexual adolescents also differ in
self-identification of sexual gender differences, as girls would more likely be
open and boys more closed about the trait (Pauletti & Perry, 2011).

Maturity

During
adolescence teens begin the process of gaining more maturity and adult thought
processing. Girls still mature roughly
two years before boys. They gain a
bigger scope of the social structure of the world around them that moves them
toward moral development (Berk, 2010). The
exposure to more situations and choices also plays a factor in maturity in the
social world through mixed gender group activities, dating and same gender
social relationships.

Both
genders develop physically however, boys perform better with spatial tasks
whereas girls perform higher in verbal tasks.
During this period of development boys develop athletically while girls
develop emotionally. Girls develop the
ability to bear children. Motor skill
performance also develops in females (Berk, 2010).

Conclusion

Adolescence
is the period during which the person transforms from childhood to adulthood
with physical, cognitive and emotional changes taking place. During this time gender differences and
similarities become more evident as teens develop morality, maturity, self-identity,
sexual identity and gain a greater knowledge of the social structure of society
around them. Some of the major
differences become most notable when adolescents socialize. Stereotypes of the society around them plays
a role in how the differences occur as they stick to their same gender groups
for most all but dating activities with the exception of mixed group
activities. Further study could reveal
that some of these differences could change to similarities if gender
stereotyping were not a part of upbringing such as physical tasks, social
mixing preferences and identity.

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